AGP Executive Report

Education & AI at Delaware State University: Delaware State University is using ChatGPT-style tools to help turn qualitative assessment data into actionable teaching and learning improvements. Higher Ed Strategy at UD: The University of Delaware continues to refine how it uses NSSE survey cycles to guide student-life decisions like belonging and career readiness. DOJ vs. UD Tuition Policy: The U.S. Department of Justice sued UD over its in-state tuition policy for certain undocumented students, arguing it violates federal law and disadvantages U.S. citizens. Literacy Access Pilot: Gov. Matt Meyer launched a pilot letting Delaware students use school IDs as juvenile library cards, starting with Eisenberg Elementary in 2026-27. Public Health Policy: Meyer signed Delaware’s harm reduction licensing framework, with phased regulations and measurable outcomes. Community Arts Funding: Georgetown’s GREAT Fund recommended $115,000 for 21 local nonprofits supporting recreation, education, and the arts. Local Events: Newark’s Music on Main (Oct. 3), Back the Bluey Day (Oct. 3), and the Main Street Mile (Oct. 4) bring music, community, and fundraising downtown. Nonprofit Support: Freeman Arts Pavilion’s Arts Supply Drive delivered $20,000+ in supplies to middle schools across Delaware and Maryland.

Education & Community Giving: Freeman Arts Pavilion’s annual Arts Supply Drive delivered $20,000+ in supplies (plus foundation matching checks) to 10 Delaware and Maryland middle schools, including all four Indian River middle schools, with teachers getting exactly what they requested. Holiday Lights & Local Culture: Longwood Gardens announced “A Longwood Christmas,” a cosmic-themed display running Nov. 20, 2026–Jan. 10, 2027, featuring space-telescope imagery and celestial décor. Public Health & Policy: Gov. Matt Meyer signed Senate Bill 249 and Executive Order 28 to create Delaware’s harm-reduction licensing framework, aiming for evidence-based overdose prevention and measurable outcomes. Higher Ed & Immigration: The DOJ sued the University of Delaware over its in-state tuition policy for undocumented students, arguing it conflicts with federal law. Workforce & Training: A new report from the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades warns the U.S. needs 1.7 million skilled workers annually through 2035, but training output lags far behind—Delaware is listed among states where demand outpaces supply. Arts & Inclusion: A Delaware speech-language pathologist designed “Go Birds” shirts using communication picture squares for nonverbal students, with proceeds planned for the Eagles Autism Foundation.

Education & Access: Delaware pilot lets students use school-issued IDs as library cards, cutting forms and speeding up access to books and research. Creative Economy: Gov. Meyer signed a Delaware film tax credit to lure productions and boost local artists and jobs. Arts & Community: Ursuline secured a $2.5M lead gift for a new performing arts center in a historic Wilmington church, aiming for a 2028 opening. Literacy in Schools: Cape Henlopen earned a Bridge to Practice grant to expand early literacy training and supports for educators. Public Media: WHYY completed its acquisition of WPSU, keeping central and northern Pennsylvania’s PBS/NPR service running. Immigration & Families: Grassroots groups in Delaware are backing families targeted by ICE, helping with costs and searching for detained loved ones. Health & Equity: Research highlights low hepatitis B vaccination rates among liver transplant recipients, underscoring gaps in preventive care. Workforce Pipeline: RadNet and WIN-NextGen launched a mentorship and shadowing program to spark careers in medical imaging for teens and young adults.

Delaware History & Culture: John Dickinson Plantation’s new permanent exhibit, “One Land Many Voices,” debuts Oct. 10 in a new 14,000-square-foot visitor center, expanding the story beyond Dickinson to include the people who lived and labored there, with Gov. Matt Meyer proclaiming “One Land Many Voices Day.” Delaware Housing: The Delaware State Housing Authority is rebranding as “Housing Delaware,” rolling out a new name, logo, and redesigned website while keeping the same legal agency and web address. Public Media: WHYY finalized a deal with Penn State to take over and operate WPSU, helping keep the PBS/NPR affiliate from likely closure. Community & Safety: Chestertown’s council meeting tackled housing needs, recovery from a September fire, and controversy over a heavy police response to a permitted party. Education & Tech: Delaware State University is using ChatGPT to help integrate qualitative survey data into assessment, while UD continues to build strategy around NSSE student-engagement results. Health & Science: A study reports only 60% of liver transplant recipients are vaccinated against hepatitis B, raising concerns for risk reduction. Outdoor Delaware: DNREC updated hunting guidance for younger hunters after a state Supreme Court ruling, reinstating direct supervision rules for some ages. Arts & Pride: New Hope Celebrates kicks off “OUT in October,” culminating in the High Heel Drag Race on Oct. 25. Digital Government: Delaware earned an A- in the 2026 Digital States Survey for easier, more secure access to services.

Delaware Education & Culture: Delaware’s Teacher of the Year will be announced Oct. 13, with 20 educators nominated statewide and a classroom observation plus essays and a recorded presentation shaping the winner. Local Schools Funding: A new watchdog report warns that the U.S. Department of Education’s suspension of K-12 monitoring could leave billions in Title I dollars more vulnerable to waste and unreliable absenteeism reporting. Community Learning: Surf Bagel’s “Books to Bagels” program is expanding across Delaware classrooms, rewarding reading goals with coupons for bagels and cream cheese. Public History & Identity: John Dickinson Plantation’s new permanent exhibit, “One Land Many Voices,” opens Oct. 10 at the visitor center, using multi-sensory storytelling to honor Indigenous peoples, tenant farmers, and the free and enslaved Black community tied to the site. Youth & Civic Life: The League of Women Voters is hosting a District 41 state representative forum Oct. 15 in Selbyville, with questions submitted in advance and ASL interpretation available. Delaware Outdoors: DNREC updated hunting guidance after a Delaware Supreme Court ruling, tightening direct supervision rules for some 18-to-20 hunters depending on firearm type. Higher Ed Assessment: University of Delaware and Delaware State University are using NSSE survey data—and even AI tools at DSU—to better analyze student experience and support teaching and learning.

Delaware Hunting Rules Update: DNREC updated Delaware hunting regulations after a state Supreme Court ruling changed supervision requirements for hunters ages 18 to 20, creating a tricky firearm-by-firearm distinction while lawmakers plan fixes for next session. Education & Community: Delaware County Intermediate Unit launched a Structured Literacy Resource Hub to help educators and families implement structured literacy and intervention. Higher Ed, Delaware Style: University of Delaware and Delaware State University are using NSSE and AI tools like ChatGPT to improve assessment and turn student feedback into action. Local Civic Life: The League of Women Voters’ Lisa Malone will speak at an AAUW meeting in Rehoboth on LWV work beyond voter registration. School Incentives: Surf Bagel rolled out “Books to Bagels,” rewarding student reading goals with coupons. Arts & Heritage: John Dickinson Plantation’s new permanent exhibit, “One Land Many Voices,” debuts Oct. 10, with a statewide “One Land Many Voices Day” proclamation. Immigrant Community Spotlight: La Esperanza marks 30 years with the premiere of “Faces of Hope,” revisiting Sussex County’s Latino immigrant story. Public Health Watch: Delaware reported a second straight year of declining suspected drug overdose deaths, but officials warn nonfatal overdoses and contaminated drug risks remain.

Delaware Education & AI: Delaware State University is rolling out a “culture of curiosity” approach to using ChatGPT in assessment, teaching, and learning, aiming to turn qualitative student feedback into actionable insights. Delaware Higher Ed Strategy: The University of Delaware is tightening its National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) process with shared timelines and theme-based reporting to help units track belonging and career readiness. Opioid Settlement in Seaford: Seaford is using opioid settlement funds for more than enforcement—combining recreation and outreach to break the cycle of drug misuse and gun violence. Tech & Workflows: Soulog launched Soulog Sense, an ultra-thin AI voice recorder that links audio with images, text, and files to build a usable knowledge base. AI Governance Watch: Reuters reports Anthropic’s IPO filing sets up a new “Founder LLC” structure and keeps the company operating as a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation. College Sports Policy: A major federal bill to set national rules for college athletes’ pay and transfers passed the U.S. Senate and now heads to the House—Delaware’s senators split on it. Arts in Wilmington: Dayesla Ixtli’s “Diosas & Guerreras: The Living Canvas” opens Oct. 2 at the Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery, blending body transformation, mythology, and portrait photography. Residents’ Rights Month: Delaware long-term care advocates are spotlighting October’s theme, “Join Us at the Table,” centered on dignity and choice at mealtimes. Delaware Politics & Debates: GOP Senate nominee Mike Katz is pushing for a televised debate with Sen. Chris Coons after debate plans for 2026 were questioned.

Delaware Arts Spotlight: Wilmington’s Mezzanine Gallery opens Dayesla Ixtli’s wearable-art show “Diosas & Guerreras: The Living Canvas” Oct. 2–30, with a free reception Oct. 2, turning the body into “raw power” through myth, armor, prosthetics, and photography. Local Culture & Community: Delaware Division of the Arts also grabbed six National Federation of Press Women awards, including first- and second-place honors for arts storytelling. Civic Life & Debate: Republican U.S. Senate nominee Mike Katz is pushing for a televised debate with Chris Coons after campaign claims UD canceled its Delaware Debates program. Family Policy Watch: A Delaware Family Policy Council leader says abortion, parental rights, and education fights are likely to return to Dover with the new General Assembly. Education & Tech: Delaware State University and the University of Delaware are sharing how they’re using NSSE survey data—and AI tools like ChatGPT—to improve assessment and student learning. Justice & Safety: A former Delco assistant fire chief was sentenced to restrictive probation and house arrest after calling a woman the N-word during an argument. Arts on the Calendar: Wordsmiths Reading Series brings award-winning poets to Newtown Oct. 2, and the Blackbird Creek Fall Festival returns Oct. 17 with crafts, estuary learning, music, and kids’ activities.

Education & Belonging: Delaware State University is using ChatGPT to speed up analysis of NSSE open-ended student responses, turning qualitative feedback into actionable insights for assessment and teaching. Higher Ed Strategy: The University of Delaware is building a long-running NSSE system around shared timelines and theme-based reports (like belonging and career readiness) to support program reviews. Community & Care: Delaware County launched a doula directory and training push through the Delco Doula Collaborative, aiming to expand maternity support as local birth-center options shrink. Local Governance & Growth: A Sussex County citizen PAC, Save Our Sussex, is gearing up to back candidates focused on “managing” expanding growth. Reproductive Health Spotlight: Joe Biden accepted a Planned Parenthood award in Delaware, underscoring the fight over abortion access. Immigration Policy: Delaware’s Office of New Americans is in limbo as Gov. Matt Meyer weighs whether to sign a bill codifying the office amid staffing and budget cuts. Culture & Arts: Arthur Jafa’s “Elegy to America” opened at the New Museum, adding another major stop for Black cultural work. Weather Impact: A powerful nor’easter battered the region with flooding risk and widespread power outages, disrupting travel and events.

Education & AI in Delaware Higher Ed: Delaware State University is rolling ChatGPT into assessment and teaching workflows, aiming to turn qualitative survey data into actionable insights instead of leaving it stuck behind reports. Student Life Data: The University of Delaware is tightening its NSSE process across campus, using shared timelines and theme-focused reporting to support areas like belonging and career readiness. Reproductive Health in Delaware: Planned Parenthood of Delaware honored President Joe Biden at its gala, spotlighting his defense of abortion access and warning about the power of women’s votes. New Parent Support: Delaware County launched a doula directory and trained 30 doulas through the Delco Doula Collaborative, expanding Medicaid- and insurance-covered postpartum care after local birth-center closures. Immigration Services: Delaware’s Office of New Americans faces an uncertain future as Gov. Matt Meyer weighs whether to codify it, citing staffing and budget limits. Community & Culture: Milford’s library and museum will host a program on Charles Lindbergh’s legacy—“hero or villain?”—examining his aviation fame and controversial politics. Weather & Daily Life: A nor’easter battered the region with heavy rain, major coastal flooding risk, and widespread power outages, disrupting travel and events. Local Arts Spotlight: Filmmaker Lesley-Ann Wanliss’s short “Bright Sparks” is racking up festival selections, including a Delaware stop.

Delaware Education & AI: Delaware State University is using ChatGPT to turn qualitative student-engagement survey responses into actionable insights for assessment and teaching, aiming to make “curiosity” part of how data gets used. Delaware Higher Ed Strategy: The University of Delaware keeps NSSE results behind a secure firewall but uses them across campus to guide program reviews and student-life decisions, including theme-focused reporting on belonging and career readiness. Storm & Coastal Life: A powerful nor’easter slammed the Northeast with heavy rain, major coastal flooding risk, and widespread power outages—forcing beach closures and canceling events and flights. Immigration Services: Gov. Matt Meyer is weighing whether to sign a bill codifying Delaware’s Office of New Americans, citing budget cuts and the need for more staff and resources. Community History: Milford Public Library and Milford Museum will host a Charles Lindbergh “Hero or Villain?” program, revisiting his aviation legacy alongside his controversial political stance. Local Culture & Sports: Delaware’s veterans’ stand down and employment expo drew hundreds of visitors to connect with services, while Delaware-area fans also tracked major regional sports coverage. Education Access: A national push highlights families’ options for tutoring and specialized support—sometimes inside public school, sometimes via nonpublic paths—through a federal scholarship tax credit that requires opt-in by Dec. 31.

Storm Watch: A powerful nor’easter is battering the Northeast, knocking out power for tens of thousands and canceling hundreds of flights, with major coastal flooding and dangerous winds expected into Sunday. Local History & Learning: Milford Public Library and the Milford Museum are hosting a Charles Lindbergh program—“Hero or Villain?”—examining his aviation legacy and controversial pre-WWII politics. Community & Family Fun: The Delco Downhill Derby kept rolling in driving rain, with teams building creative pedal-powered carts and showing up anyway. Delaware Sports Culture: Jody Jamieson returned to the Little Brown Jug winner’s circle with Redland Rocket Man, while Delaware’s Scott Stadium game coverage also features former UVA standout Rodney McLeod as an ACC Network analyst. Veterans Support: Delaware State University helped staff the 2026 Delaware Veterans’ Stand Down & Employment Expo, connecting veterans with jobs, benefits, and services. Tech + Education: Delaware State University and the University of Delaware are spotlighting how NSSE survey data is being used to improve student life and learning—now with growing interest in AI tools like ChatGPT.

Higher-Ed & Tech in Delaware: Delaware State University is rolling ChatGPT into assessment and teaching, aiming to turn qualitative student feedback into usable insights, while the University of Delaware continues to use NSSE data to guide student-life decisions and program reviews. Immigration & Work Permits: A coalition of 22 state attorneys general, including Delaware, is pushing back hard on a proposed $103,265 H-1B fee, calling it unlawful and harmful to staffing shortages in schools, hospitals, and other essential services. Privacy Watch: A federal privacy law looks unlikely soon, so Delaware and other states keep tightening rules—especially around sensitive data and third-party sharing. Community Health & Care: Delaware’s Southern Delaware Walk to End Alzheimer’s has been postponed to Nov. 14, while local education and youth-support efforts keep spotlighting families’ needs for the right services. Culture & Events: Wilmington is set to host the Caribbean International Film and Fashion Festival (Oct. 9-10), bringing Caribbean filmmakers, fashion, panels, and screenings to Theatre N. Weather & Local Life: A nor’easter is disrupting plans across the region, including postponing Delaware’s Delaware Handicap to Oct. 3.

Education & Data: University of Delaware is leaning hard on NSSE to shape student-life decisions, aligning surveys across units so departments can use multiple cycles of results for reviews and support. AI in Learning: Delaware State University is also using ChatGPT-style tools to turn qualitative survey responses into usable insights for assessment and teaching. K-12 Funding Watch: A new GAO report warns that the U.S. Department of Education’s suspension of key monitoring could leave billions in K-12 dollars exposed, including unreliable absenteeism data. Privacy Policy: Federal privacy law looks unlikely soon, so Delaware and other states keep tightening rules—Delaware’s updates add due-diligence requirements for third parties handling personal data. Community Care: A University of Delaware research-and-service center is helping expand Delaware’s housing supports, including a new Kent County Hope Center plan. Arts & Culture: Wilmington’s Caribbean International Film and Fashion Festival returns Oct. 9–10 at Theatre N. Local Events: The Southern Delaware Walk to End Alzheimer’s is postponed to Nov. 14 due to weather. Sports & Community: Sussex Academy PE teacher Stephanie Hartsoe was named Delaware’s High School PE Teacher of the Year.

Community Calendar: Newark’s Community Day (Sept. 27, UD Green), Hero Day (Sept. 27, Newark Charter High School), and Music on Main (Oct. 3) are set to bring families, performers, and local vendors together—plus a Main Street Mile and fall police-community events. Public Safety & Accountability: A Wilmington anti-violence town hall turned tense when Kadir Skinner’s father confronted city leaders over delays and transparency concerns tied to an officer-involved shooting. Health & Recovery: Sussex nonprofit Attack Addiction hosts Sober Fest (Sept. 26) at Hudson Fields with free admission, live music, family activities, and recovery resources. Community & Culture: The Watkins Museum of History will open a centennial exhibition on Haskell Memorial Stadium (Sept. 25–Jan. 16), spotlighting Indigenous history and the 1926 dedication. Workplace Wellness: Independence Health System earned a top Healthiest Employer honor for employee well-being programs. Food Security: Delaware codified the Delaware Farm to Community Program into state law, funding local farms to supply fresh food to pantries and community partners. Education Data: Delmar School District reported 51 Asian students (3.3%) in 2024–25, with enrollment details broken out by school.

Food & Farms: Delaware just codified the Delaware Farm to Community Program into state law, pairing local farmers with food pantries and other outlets in a non-donation model that keeps money circulating and gets fresh, seasonal food to people facing food insecurity. Workplace Well-Being: Independence Health System earned a 2026 Healthiest Employer honor for expanding virtual wellness, digital coaching, and online education. Education & Access: A federal court blocked Trump administration changes that would have defunded Head Start and other safety-net programs in Delaware, calling it a win for the most vulnerable. Early Literacy: Red Clay School District shared early reading progress, including gains in phonics and steady work to lift SBAC proficiency. Public Health & Community: Hundreds turned out for the 40th annual AIDS Walk Delaware in Rehoboth Beach, supporting testing, counseling, PrEP education, and housing help. Culture & Things To Do: The Philadelphia Orchestra kicks off its 127th season, with fall festivals and Puerto Rican cultural events on the regional calendar. Consumer Protection: New York AG Letitia James joined a coalition securing about $2.3 million and reforms after a Labcorp data breach. Safety & Justice: A Maryland hunter was charged with manslaughter after mistaking a woman for a deer in Delaware.